All out war on invasive species

Preventing the spread of invasive species with mandatory boat inspections financed by increased registration fees received wide support at Tuesday’s public hearing in Lake George.

This was the first of two public hearings by the Lake George Park Commission, which has draft plan for aquatic invasive species prevention that they hope to approve this summer. A range of options are being considered, said Commission Executive Director David Wick, but the preferred option now is mandatory boat inspections.

The proposed plan, which has been developed over the past 18 months by consultants The LA Group of Saratoga Springs, is available below.

Wick said the proposal would rewuire five regional inspection sites around the lake. The system would be funded by doubling boat registration fees, which would raise about $550,000, and a $40 annual inspection fee, which would raise about $100,000.